News

Aprile 2017
loading...

Design reliable security systems in BIM

How do you design reliable security systems in your Revit project? Many manufacturers of security systems offer their specific 3D-content on MEPcontent. Check out our large range of cameras, lighting fixtures, intercoms, motion detectors and more. Start designing more reliable systems today!
Marzo 2017
loading...

5 BIM trends in the MEP industry in 2017

“The MEP industry never changes, building is building,” we sometimes hear. The opposite is actually true.

Many trends that you come across as a consumer can also influence the work of installers, modelers and advisors. But how will this look like? Nothing is certain, but these are the trends we can expect in 2017.

1.Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is at the verge of making a breakthrough at a professional level. An interesting variation of this is Mixed Reality. Take the Microsoft Hololens for example: glasses which merge one's real surroundings with virtual images, holograms. This allows you to experience virtual reality in your own living room, at your desk, at work or outside at the construction site. During the SUM (Stabicad User Meeting) we demonstrated a number of possible applications in order to see what could be viable in the installation sector. We showed, for example, a 3D-model of a plant room, a 3D-model of a Remeha-cascade setup, generated from real product data, and we revealed how this technology could be of use with a product in operation. As holograms can be scaled to size and are full of information, they provide tremendous insights into various scenarios.

2.Smart designs

Another trend is prefab. Construction sites are becoming ever smaller, well-trained workers scarcer and safety requirements stricter. Prefab increases the predictability, consistency and repeatability, and helps installers to work more efficiently. Installers can code prefab sets according to personal wishes and benefit from the fact that increasingly more processes are being automated, such as the generation of prefab sheets and the placing of tags. What's more, thanks to good BIM libraries such as MEPcontent.com, engineers can rest assured that the content is always checked by the manufacturer and that it contains all the up-to-date information necessary for the (ordering) process, such as article numbers and prices. This ensures for a smooth flow of information, from design and ordering to assembly at the workshop.

3.‘On demand’ tools

Shrinking budgets mean that BIM engineers have to design in a smart and efficient manner. Good software is necessary for this. But different projects require different functionalities in your software, and flexibility is becoming ever more important here as well. The ‘on-demand’ model such as the system we use at home for Netflix will increasingly penetrate the world of design software. Software, updates and support are included in a monthly payment, and consequently can be adjusted precisely to meet your needs. Specific design tools, available as apps, will appear evermore frequently. The functionality that you need at that moment, and quickly installed within your project. Advantage: you pay only when you need the app and not for all sorts of packages. In this way, installers are able to deliver the flexibility required of the market, without incurring excessive costs.

4.Internet of Things
In the installation sector we hear more and more about IoT (Internet of Things): everyday objects that are connected to the Internet. IoT is a highly promising technology for the installation sector as sensors are already present in many systems. The next logical step is to connect all these sensors to the Internet. As soon as the data is online it can be stored in databases and monitored by applications. A good example is the new start-up Augury. The Augury system makes use of data from vibration and ultrasonic sensors in HVAC equipment. It compares real-time data with previous data from the same device, as well as data collected from similar machines. The platform can detect the smallest of changes and provides a warning in the event of failures. This analysis occurs in real-time, and the results are sent to your smartphone within a matter of a few seconds.

5.5D-BIM

Architects, installers and advisors often use different platforms that do not always synchronise well with one another. The result of this is that there is no single source that provides an integrated, real-time picture of design, costs and materials. The result: disappointing performance. 5D-BIM incorporates the costs and necessary materials in your design. 5D-BIM is a five-dimensional display of the physical and functional properties of a project. It adds two properties to 3D-BIM: costs and materials. In addition to the standard design parameters, details such as geometrics, aesthetics and thermal and acoustic properties are now incorporated in a project. This allows engineers in an early stage to see how a decision affects the costs of a design.

Data is king

The combination of these trends offers many possibilities for the entire construction chain. There is one major 'but': all chain partners will have to embrace BIM technologies in order to benefit from the advantages provided by BIM. What's more, from design to implementation use will have to be made of correct, uniform data and standards. One thing is clear from these trends: in 2017 data is king.
loading...

Meet us at BIM world Paris today

Today is your last chance to meet us at BIM World, the largest international BIM event in Paris. The event takes place March 29th and 30th 2017, at Espace Grande Arche, Paris - La Défense. BIM World promotes the usage of BIM, unites and supports the Digital Transformation of all stakeholders in the value chain of construction, real estate and territory planning. Meet us at stands 78-80!

As a European market leader in the field of BIM software for MEP engineers, we are inviting you to go BIM LIVE. With Stabicad for Revit and MEPcontent, you have the best tools at hand for a productive start with BIM. From planning and design to prefab and installation: our solutions support you throughout the entire BIM workflow.

Manufacturers
MEPcontent will also be present on the stand. More than 250 manufacturers, such as Caleffi, Mitsubishi and Vaillant, publish 3D content in the BIM library. Together with the Content Factory, manufacturers make their products "BIM ready" for more than 15,000 European MEP engineers.

Stabicad 11
The latest version of Stabicad is focused on saving time through smart productivity tools. Integrated calculations in the BIM model, according to local standards, play an important role. Visit our stand and learn more about the key features of Stabicad, such as functionality for sprinkler design, Autorouting, prefab, IFC im- and export and solving nodes.

Discover the added value of Stabicad and MEPcontent at booths 78-80.

We look forward you meeting you!
loading...

Designing piping systems was never this easy

Have you seen our new free Revit app for SANHA piping systems? The app offers you the full product range for SANHA piping systems in one Revit application. Watch the tutorial video to find out more about the app.

It's very easy to configure your piping system using the intuitive product selector. With the drag-and-draw functionality you can design your complete system in no-time.

Why not give it a try? Download the app for free on our store.
loading...

Report from the exhibition ground [ISH]

With 200.114 visitors from 61 countries, it’s safe to say the ISH fair in Frankfurt was a great success. The 2500(!) exhibitors report being very satisfied with the quality of the international fair – now it’s time for the follow-up. This also applies to MEPcontent and Stabiplan: our participation in ISH 2017 is already called successful.

Of course: ahead of us we have a lot of following-up to do as well. But in the first place, we look back on a great week with many good conversations and interesting encounters. It would go to far to address all interesting topics in detail. Still, we can outline the main topics that were discussed during the fair.

Manufacturers and BIM
Every self-respecting manufacturer has Building Information Modeling (BIM) high on the agenda today. It’s simple: engineers need high-quality and up-to-date content for their BIM models. Nice examples of manufacturers with a focus on BIM were featured on the stands of Caleffi, Oventrop and Sanha. Two years ago, a low BIM adoption in a certain country could be used as an excuse. We have left these days now definitely behind us.

Design flow
BIM is a process; this is true for the building industry as a whole, but also when zooming in on the installation industry. The MEP design flow shows that BIM is much more than a software tool. It’s about people working together, coming to agreements and managing expectations. Many conversations at the ISH were about this topic. On an international trade fair in particular, it is valuable to exchange experiences and share knowledge.

Content platform
As mentioned before: manufacturers are aware of the importance of good content. But there is more to it: this is the strength of a platform like MEPcontent which brings engineers and manufacturers together. Everyone reaps the benefits: engineers have access to all important content and are ensured of good quality, while manufacturers know that their products are listed and can be communicated directly to engineers to receive valuable feedback.

You could say that a platform like MEPcontent is similar to the exhibition floor place of an international tradeshow. Online.
loading...

MEPcontent at ISH Frankfurt

MEPcontent will be at ISH in Franfurt am Main this year, Hall 5_6 stand V19.

You will meet colleagues from Stabiplan GmbH and MEPcontent at the stand and you can also schedule a meeting with us during the ISH to discuss what Stabiplan or MEPcontent can deliver to you as a manufacturer and how your products can be exposed in new innovative ways to reach out the TGA/MEP engineers globally.

Have you ever considered building your own app to promote your products and to improve the working experience for engineers working in Revit?

We look forward to meet you in Germany on booth V19 (hall 5_6) to tell you more about the opportunities for your organization. See you @ ISH !
loading...

Lightning fast design of SANHA piping systems in Revit

Engineers need to deliver BIM projects fast. Designing piping systems with the correct diameters, bends, ducts, and fittings can be very time-consuming. With the innovative SANHA Product Line Placer (PLiP) for Revit, engineers design piping systems at lightning speed.

MEPcontent introduces this new application in cooperation with piping systems manufacturer SANHA. MEPcontent, the largest BIM library for MEP engineers, does not only offer actual BIM content, but also offers productivity increasing BIM applications for the MEP industry.

SANHA, a leading European manufacturer of piping systems for HVAC installations, meets its customers’ needs for BIM tools With the PLiP application. “Our clients need to be able to easily work with our products in BIM projects. With the PLiP, we now offer our customers a powerful tool with actual 3D content for SANHA systems”, says Mathias van den Broeck, Product Manager at SANHA.

Designing SANHA systems is much easier with the new PLiP. With the in-app Autorouting functionality, designing piping systems is done in the blink of an eye. The correct fittings bends and ducts are selected automatically and placed on the bill of materials. Engineers can design complete and actual piping systems within the app. Both technical and trade data are included in the content, for use on the material and cutting lists.

In the PLiP all relevant SANHA systems are included in Revit and VDI3805 format. These include the systems made of stainless steel (NiroSan® and NiroTherm®), carbon steel (SANHA® Therm), copper (SANHA® Press) and the special lead-free drinking water series PURAPRESS®. The PLIP can be downloaded for free on store.mepcontent.com. Downloading the PLiP only takes two minutes. Please sign in with your MEPcontent credentials or register for free to start downloading and using the app.

Please note that Stabicad users already have full functionalities available from the SANHA PLiP in Stabitools.

https://store.mepcontent.com/sanha-product-line-placer
Febbraio 2017
loading...

SANHA PLiP

Lightning fast design of SANHA piping systems in Revit

Engineers need to deliver BIM projects fast. Designing piping systems with the correct diameters, bends, ducts, and fittings can be very time-consuming. With the innovative SANHA Product Line Placer (PLiP) for Revit, engineers design piping systems at lightning speed.

MEPcontent introduces this new application in cooperation with piping systems manufacturer SANHA. MEPcontent, the largest BIM library for MEP engineers, does not only offer actual BIM content, but also offers productivity increasing BIM applications for the MEP industry.

SANHA, a leading European manufacturer of piping systems for HVAC installations, meets its customers’ needs for BIM tools With the PLiP application. “Our clients need to be able to easily work with our products in BIM projects. With the PLiP, we now offer our customers a powerful tool with actual 3D content for SANHA systems”, says Mathias van den Broeck, Product Manager at SANHA.

Designing SANHA systems is much easier with the new PLiP. With the in-app Autorouting functionality, designing piping systems is done in the blink of an eye. The correct fittings bends and ducts are selected automatically and placed on the bill of materials. Engineers can design complete and actual piping systems within the app. Both technical and trade data are included in the content, for use on the material and cutting lists.

In the PLiP all relevant SANHA systems are included in Revit and VDI3805 format. These include the systems made of stainless steel (NiroSan® and NiroTherm®), carbon steel (SANHA® Therm), copper (SANHA® Press) and the special lead-free drinking water series PURAPRESS®. The PLIP can be downloaded for free on store.mepcontent.com. Downloading the PLiP only takes two minutes. Please sign in with your MEPcontent credentials or register for free to start downloading and using the app.

https://store.mepcontent.com/sanha-product-line-placer
loading...

Victaulic on fire

Victaulic made new content available this week. As of today you can download it from MEPcontent.com Two new Product Line Sheets (Victaulic Fire Protection & Victaulic StrengThin) and four non-return valves with multiple article types have been published. Use the fire protection products from the PLS files into your BIM projects.
loading...

BIM for fire protection products

Do you want to design reliable fire protection systems in Revit? Make sure to use the latest fire protection products in your projects, use manufacturer specific BIM content. Check out our platform for BIM files for sprinklers, fire dampers, fire hoses, extinguishers and smoke detectors from leading manufacturers. Want to know more about BIM for fire protection systems? Meet us at the Feuertrutz exhibition in Nürnberg, Germany from 22nd to 23rd February.
loading...

"Our own platform for MEP is indispensable"

CAD-Magazine spoke with Edwin Schalk, business development director of Stabiplan, about the history and future of MEPcontent.com and this platform's necessity for the installation industry. This article was written by Lambert-Jan Koops and published in CAD-Magazine no. 1 2017.

Content-based site as a bridge between the manufacturer and engineer

The MEPcontent.com platform is the successor to the www.cadsymbols.nl site, which was launched by Stabiplan in 1999 (!) and which was a content platform for both 2D and 3D DWG drawings. The platform design was changed in 2010. The emergence of BIM particularly ensured that the users of the platform had an increasing need for more than just the geometrical information of the products. That is why Stabiplan decided to include both DWG drawings and REVIT/IFC-files in their database, with which the manufacturers of the various MEP products deliver all the required information in order to provide the desired representation in both a generic and a specific model and to perform system calculations. The elements contain a symbolic display, correct measurments and a 3D view along with product codes from the manufacturer. This makes MEPcontent a unified object library. Adding supplementary classifications also enables connection with calculation and ordering software.

Checks
Stabiplan works with more than 150 manufacturers in order to maintain the MEPcontent database. They either provide their own content or have their content built by Stabiplan. In both cases, the content runs through an extensive test process before it is placed on MEPcontent.com. The parameters are controlled within the development team. If these are in order, a MEPcontent tester checks the content using a checklist regarding, for example, the detail level, the structure and correct dimensions. Finally, the manufacturer approves the content before it is published on the site. Whenever there is a change in the product line (for which data is stored on MEPcontent in the form of a product line sheet), the respective adjustments are tracked and monitored, and the new product line becomes available.

The graphic article data is provided free of charge by the manufacturers. This is why the content on the site is available for everyone to download. The content is explicitly not tied to the use of specific REVIT or CAD software, as Schalk has emphatically noted. "Stabiplan may provide Autodesk-related software; the information on the platform should be useable for everyone. This actually supports the exchange of models and drawings. Especially when collaborating parties work with different design software."

Growing together in BIM
The number of users of the content platform is increasing each month by about twenty percent. According to Schalk, this fact proves that the platform meets a need. Moreover, according to him, MEPcontent is essential for the designer to evolve in the BIM process. "We think that the role of the designer in the near future will change thanks to platforms like MEPcontent. He gets involved in the ordering process. If the engineer can actually have all the relevant data already during the design process, he can concurrently see the effects that his decisions have on, for example, the cost of a design at that stage. Suppose the device from supplier A is much cheaper than that of B but a minor modification is needed for A, the designer can take this into account. Of course, some things can then always be overruled by the purchasing department, but we see in practice that the choice proposed by the engineer often prevails and his task therefore becomes broader."

Contact
According to Schalk, the importance of the manufacturers in MEPcontent.com is clear: by making their information available on the platform, they are in direct contact with the engineer. Which is indispensable in times of BIM, says the business development director. "Communication is surely the core of BIM; therefore, simplifying the access to information is one of the most important steps that a supplier can take. That is why manufacturers make extra effort to publish their data on the platform, which frees up their employees for other tasks. And if they do not have the know how in-house, they involve third parties, such as Stabiplan. In this case, we can assist with the classification of the data, with checking errors, and creating the content. For this, we have a content factory in Romania, where our employees build content."

Stock products
Since the platform is used with such enthusiasm, it is clear that there is a need. However, there is still a question remaining related to such a specific site, which is whether or not it could have been possible to set up a more general platform. Schalk: "Yes, that was possible and there are such platforms, but they are often designed for architects and the difference is that they make a lot of construction-related items, such as windows and walls, while MEP-related items, like boilers, for instance, are stock products. Moreover, the MEP engineers are frequently interested in quite different things than the architects. The MEP designer needs to make specific heating calculations, for example. The information he needs for this is not usually available in the general databases. A specific MEP platform is really indispensable."

As can be deduced from the platform's URL address, MEPcontent.com is not intended just for companies in the Netherlands. Schalk explains why they opted for this. "The Netherlands is too small in the area of MEP to have its own platform. Many of the manufacturers of MEP products have their headquarters in Germany or France and deliver throughout Europe, and the demand for corresponding data is similar in all countries. The construction process and the regulations may vary from country to country, but the data that the engineer needs are the same everywhere."
Caricamento in corso...

Un’introduzione a MEPcontent per produttori

Are you wondering how manufacturer data can be transformed into useful BIM content? Watch this explainer video and see for yourself how the MEPcontent factory deals with manufacturer data, BIM standards and norms to create BIM content you can work with!
Gennaio 2017
Caricamento in corso...

The value of industry specific BIM content libraries

What is the real value of BIM content for my company, department or product? A question we hear often. A good one, and there is a lot to say about this topic. The answer, however, is quite simple: make sure to meet the demands of your customers.

But what exactly are MEP engineers looking for in BIM content? There are numerous BIM libraries promising a complete assortment and an extended user community. The reality is a bit more complex. Files are either platform dependent or cannot be downloaded into a project easily. Users originate from a wide range of industries, perhaps not the one your customers are in.

MEPcontent believes in offering high-quality, compact content that has been specifically developed for the MEP industry. Having more than 25 years of experience in this industry, we work very closely with both MEP engineers and manufacturers. This gives us a unique position to serve engineers with useful BIM content, adding the parametric data that makes your product stand out from the competition.

If you are a MEP manufacturer and you do not want to be fooled by the numbers but need to get in touch with the right target audience (nevertheless existing of thousands of users; large or small is a relative term depending on your perspective), MEPcontent.com is your partner. We offer MEP engineers the most extended library for Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing products. We do not have it all, but we do have the biggest MEPcontent library in the world.

Perhaps you have read about new partnerships and integrations recently in the BIM domain, but rest assured, we will remain independent and focus on the MEP domain only to deliver the best quality content engineers require. We keep looking for innovative ways to connect MEP engineers and manufacturers. This is why we will also launch manufacturer specific apps soon that can help you as a specialist in the MEP industry to highlight what you do best and how it can help MEP engineers in reaching their goals more effectively.

In the end, MEPcontent.com aims to be your go-to platform for reaching MEP engineers. With our platform, your BIM content will transform from graphical and technical data towards a sales and marketing tool. Generating leads and helping with brand recognition and awareness to access new target audiences or new geographic areas for your organization and thus offering real business value. Manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Electric have chosen MEPcontent.com as their BIM platform: we are happy to help you reach MEP engineers online as well. Check out our services for manufacturers, feel free to contact us.
loading...

Configurable expansion vessel for residential construction

Do you want to increase heating systems design speed in Revit? This intelligent Revit family contains a configurable expansion vessel. Because all options are adjustable, it is easy to adapt the vessel to your design, this makes the content very suitable for residential construction. Size, color, part numbers or accessories are adjustable within the Family. This way you can easily work with your preferred manufacturer and add the right data to your schedules. Download the content from MEPcontent.com.
loading...

LOD: a confusing guideline?

The LOD, or Level of Development, is often a source of confusion in BIM projects.

In most BIM protocols you will find the desired LOD level during the project and upon completion of the as-built model. However, it is often unclear what exactly is meant by an LOD. Because of this, there is often a subsequent discussion about what should and should not be stored in the BIM model.

Information management
The term LOD has come over from the United States, along with the BIM concept. The term is often interpreted as Level of Detail, but originally stood for Level of Development. It is a method to determine the amount of information in a model. The higher the LOD level, the more information and the more specific this information is. This includes not only the graphics but also the parametric alphanumeric data.

Construction phases
The term LOD is followed by a number, ranging from LOD 100 (sketch), LOD 200 (preliminary design), LOD 300 (final design), and LOD 400 (manufacturing drawings) to LOD 500 (as-built model). Since the implementation-ready design falls somewhere between the final design and manufacturing drawings in terms of level, recently we've seen the emergence of an intermediate level in BIM protocols: LOD 350. In that sense, the LOD level really is nothing more than another name for the traditional design, construction, and management phases, meant to say something about the type and amount of information that should be recorded in this regard.

Confusion
The term is diffuse in this latter area. Moreover, the kind of information that is expected at a certain level is different for each discipline (building, construction, and installation). In ISSO publication 109 (Working in BIM), the term LOD is accompanied by a sample itemized list per level. This is an illustration of how you could determine what information is expected at any moment in a BIM protocol. In the BIM protocol, it's often the case that something is only said about the number, but the information meant by it is omitted. This creates confusion.

Collaboration
The BIM model is not an end in itself but a means to manage, analyze, and share information. Information that helps to translate an idea into reality together, in order to realize and maintain a building. It should not be a fill-in-the-blanks exercise of (infinite) parameters. Instead of naming or reaching an abstract number, it is more advisable to clarify the information that really matters in advance. For your process, for the collaborative partners, and for the following processes during the realization and the life cycle of a building. An LOD number can be a guideline for this, but we can only work together if we really know what we expect from each other.
Caricamento in corso...

Why 3D content is essential for Mitsubishi Electric

Starting almost 100 years ago as a Japanese manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric today serves customers worldwide in a wide range of industries. This multinational has a clear mission: to bring innovative technology to society to create a brighter future. In order to continuously improve products and services, acting on changing customer demands and trends is key. Mitsubishi Electric offers content for their HVAC products on MEPcontent.com to help customers deliver high-quality BIM projects.

“Our customers need to deliver extensive designs for their projects. We took on the BIM challenge, to make it as easy as possible for engineers to select Mitsubishi Electric over and above any other brand” says Paul Sexton, Technical Marketing Manager for Mitsubishi Electric Europe. “The goal was to make sure that all of our products are BIM ready, so that our customers can easily work with our products in a BIM project. From a consulting engineer working on behalf of a small sized company to a large multinational corporation located somewhere in Europe”.

Quality is key for Mitsubishi Electric
MEPcontent has developed and published content for multiple air conditioning and ventilation product ranges. Revit families, 3D DWG and IFC files are now available for the Mr. Slim, Ecodan and City Multi series. For Paul Sexton, quality was one of the key factors in choosing a partner for developing content. “Quality is synonymous with Mitsubishi Electric and we wanted to have really good quality BIM content. We were looking for a partner who could give us confidence and knew what they were about. Also, they had to be flexible enough to work with a multinational like Mitsubishi Electric. That is why we chose MEPcontent to deliver the BIM roadmap for us. MEPcontent has its grassroots in the MEP industry. It is part of a 26 year old business, a market leader in the Netherlands and is eager to grow with a multinational like ourselves.”

The content has proved itself successful. After the products had been published on MEPcontent, the Mitsubishi Electric offices all over Europe invited their customers to download and use the content. “We've received great feedback from our customers so far. That's how we reassure ourselves of the importance of high-quality BIM content” says Paul Sexton.

Set your BIM roadmap for 2017
How are you, as a manufacturer, dealing with the demand for BIM content of your customers? Join our webinar ‘BIM for manufacturers’ on Thursday January 26th from 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM CET, to get up-to-date with the latest BIM trends in the MEP industry.